Thread: Crap! My LRose dress is too long!

I just received a pretty blue twilight LRose beledi dress, and it’s about an inch too long.

Except for securing the occasional button, I don't sew. I have done simple hemming before, but this is a flared skirt with whatdyoucallem, gores, so the hem isn’t straight across. I’m supposed to wear this dress in less than two weeks and I’m scared to death I’m going to mess it up if I try to hem it. Anyone got advice for hemming? Or should I just throw in the towel right now and take it to a professional seamstress? Or maybe just hike it up and tie it with a sash?? I seriously don’t want to trip on the skirt, but I don’t want to ruin it, either!

Can you take it to an alteration place, maybe at the dry cleaners? I would let a pro do the work, especially if sewing isn't your strong point. You don't want to mess up your new dress before you even get the chance to wear it!!

Our student performing group ordered lrose beledi dresses last fall. On their recommendations, and some other people here, we erred on the large side with our measurements by rounding up to the nearest inch and adding another inch. Well, they were all 3-4 inches too long and most needed taking in along the sides as well.

Because hemming from the bottom would have removed too much of the flair, we cut them at the hip and removed the extra length there. Whatever they wear at the hip hides the seam. They came out looking really nice.

Sedonia

I had a class order beledi dresses and despite my getting all up in everyone's personal space for the "underarm to floor" measurement almost all of them were 3"-4" too long. We folded them over at the hip, pinned the fold and secured with a running stitch (easy hand sewing). We had ordered sequin & fringe belts from L.Rose to go with them and they easily covered the fold.

~~Kimahri

My sewing skills are not great either and I know if it were me, I'd be taking this dress to a seamstress for alteration.

Originally Posted by Kimahri

I had a class order beledi dresses and despite my getting all up in everyone's personal space for the "underarm to floor" measurement almost all of them were 3"-4" too long. We folded them over at the hip, pinned the fold and secured with a running stitch (easy hand sewing). We had ordered sequin & fringe belts from L.Rose to go with them and they easily covered the fold.

~~Kimahri

Yeah, the last beledi dress I ordered from them was perfect, length-wise, so I was really surprised that this was so off. (It's prolly a good two inches too long, now that I look at it again.)

Your approach appeals to me, at least for the short term. I'd need a little more time to find a good professional and then I'd sweat it while it was in his/her hands.

Sorry for the dumb questions, but what's a running stitch, and did you sew it from the inside?

Taj, Here is what a running stitch looks like:

- - - - - -

Put the dress on and put a pin at the side seams where you would have your hip scarf or hip belt sit. Take it off and lay it out. Now turn pull the skirt up to make a fold all the way around pinning as you go. You can use a ruler to make sure you get it approximately even. Try the dress on and tie a hip scarf to make sure you have it the way you want. Use thread to match the dress color as closely as possible and sew through all layers of fabric with the running stitch. Since this is a temporary fix until you can get a seamstress to permanently shorten the dress, you stitches don't have to be tiny. Maybe 1/8 to 1/4" would do. You can also use some safety pins as well if you want. That should do it! I actually did this with a Madame Abla dress (in my profile pic) that was too long, folding it up under the heavy hip fringe and used a running stitch to secure.

Souzan

Originally Posted by ssipes

Because hemming from the bottom would have removed too much of the flair, we cut them at the hip and removed the extra length there. Whatever they wear at the hip hides the seam. They came out looking really nice.

This is exactly what I did with my L Rose beledi dress. (I bought one of Kimahri's student's dresses.) It was about 6 inches too long for me and a bit too big in the hips. So I cut off the 6 inches from the middle of the dress, tightened the hips, and sewed it back together. The sequined fringe belts covered the seam perfectly. I think it is probably the best way to handle the situation.

I am not comfortable with my own sewing skills. I will dink around with small stuff but my costume I take to a trusted seamstress.

Originally Posted by Souzan

Taj, Here is what a running stitch looks like:

- - - - - -

Put the dress on and put a pin at the side seams where you would have your hip scarf or hip belt sit. Take it off and lay it out. Now turn pull the skirt up to make a fold all the way around pinning as you go. You can use a ruler to make sure you get it approximately even. Try the dress on and tie a hip scarf to make sure you have it the way you want. Use thread to match the dress color as closely as possible and sew through all layers of fabric with the running stitch. Since this is a temporary fix until you can get a seamstress to permanently shorten the dress, you stitches don't have to be tiny. Maybe 1/8 to 1/4" would do. You can also use some safety pins as well if you want. That should do it! I actually did this with a Madame Abla dress (in my profile pic) that was too long, folding it up under the heavy hip fringe and used a running stitch to secure.

Souzan

Thanks, Souzan! So, once I'm ready to sew, does it matter if I sew it on the outside, or should I turn it inside out? (Since it will be covered, I would imagine it doesn't matter, yes?)

Taj,

The same thing happened to me. I either gave them the wrong measurements, or there was a misunderstanding on the phone. We never quite figured it out. :) They were very gracious, btw.

Like several folks above--I basically had the dress cut at hip level (where I would wear a belt) and added a seam, now it is perfect. If you can take it to a local dry cleaner/alterations place, they should be able to do it in a flash, it should not take much time or cash for a pro. Or you could contact L Rose and see if they can do it for you (for a fee, I assume).

Good luck.

Things that make you go hmmmmm...
I've noticed from everyone's posts that L.Rose is suddenly becoming a tad...easy shall I say...with quality control? I ordered 2 beledi dresses...same measurements...one fits...the other is WAY big on me.
I had a show, I had to tailor it myself.
Ditto a few tops.
I just heard from one of my students that her L.Rose ordered skirt is WAY too long. What's going on with them????
Gia

One of the problems may be that they recommend that you order the flared style skirts and dresses LONGER than you would straight styles. I think if someone has fairly large hips or is overall curvy that this is a good idea as curves will take up length. But for more slender dancers or for those who have shorter legs and longer torsos, the dress may come out too short. Fabric weight makes a difference too. The luxury velvet is fairly heavy compared to the lycras and may do a little stretching out when hung or worn.

Probably the time of year you order makes a difference too. During their crunch times they are going to naturally have less time for attention to detail than at other times of the year.

Souzan

Hey there,

Not sure where you stand on your dress... but one tailor I can recommend is Aldos, very near 12 Corners, just before the drugstore. (south side of Monroe)

Originally Posted by Rafiqa_Sadah

Hey there,

Not sure where you stand on your dress... but one tailor I can recommend is Aldos, very near 12 Corners, just before the drugstore. (south side of Monroe)

Oh, thank you! I'll keep that in mind. For now I think I'm going to go with the temporary fix of hiking it up and stitching it in place. The thought of somebody cutting it in half right now scares me to death! I wanna wear it at least once first!

Originally Posted by Gia al Qamar

Things that make you go hmmmmm...
I've noticed from everyone's posts that L.Rose is suddenly becoming a tad...easy shall I say...with quality control? I ordered 2 beledi dresses...same measurements...one fits...the other is WAY big on me.
I had a show, I had to tailor it myself.
Ditto a few tops.
I just heard from one of my students that her L.Rose ordered skirt is WAY too long. What's going on with them????
Gia

My only guess is that the fullness of some skirts and/or the weight of some of the fabrics are making things 3-4" longer than they were ordered. The finished length of a velvet beledi dress could measure out perfectly when flat, but hang that sweetie up and suddenly it's 2" (or more) too long. Those full skirts are heavy and so is velvet when you have enough of it...so maybe since they're so busy right now they're not hanging their garments to ascertain the correct length?

Of course, I have no idea how they process their clothes. I only know how I trim the hems on my garments. : )